President of India calls institutions to upgrade standard of education

The President of India, Pranab Mukherjee, has called upon educational institutions to maintain and upgrade the standard of education imparted. Universities need to develop in their students a scientific temper and a curriculum that will encourage the growth of research and innovation, he said.

The President said that to provide greater access to quality higher education to more students, the financial assistance offered must increasingly offer a mix of scholarships, education loans and self-help plans such as ‘earn while you learn’ schemes. Increasing the reach of education in the country, flexible models such as ‘open’, and ‘distance’ learning are far-reaching initiatives and should be encouraged and supported, he added.

The President stated that we must take full advantage of India’s fortunate demographic ratio and that our economy’s sustained economic growth would depend on appropriate human capital formation.

The President of India, was speaking at the felicitation function at Suri Vidyasagar College, Birbhum, West Bengal, where he studied.